More than half of employees say they’re stuck in a persistent state of workplace unhappiness, according to a recent survey from cloud learning platform TalentLMS. One in five say it is a frequent (14 percent) or constant (6 percent) state for them, while only 14 percent say they never feel that way.

Research by TalentLMS found that “employees are silently cracking under persistent pressure.” The firm calls this feeling of persistent unhappiness “Quiet Cracking,” noting that it can lead to disengagement, poor performance or a desire to quit.

Quiet Cracking isn’t the same as burnout, TalentLMS said, which shows up in physical and mental exhaustion. It’s a feeling of disconnection—employees feel like they aren’t being heard, seen, or supported with growth or learning opportunities.

TalentLMS said that factors such as the tight job market, uncertain economy and lack of career growth can lead employees to fear their skills are outdated and that they could be replaced—possibly by AI.

Companies can fight off Quiet Cracking by prioritizing employee training; teaching managers to focus on empathy and listening to feedback; taking the time to recognize employee contributions; and setting clear and manageable expectations.

Key findings from the survey:

• 82 percent of employees feel secure in their jobs today—but that drops to 62 percent when asked about their future with the company.
• One in 6 employees (18 percent) are unsure if they have a long-term future where they are now.
• The top concerns driving job insecurity are: economic uncertainty (38 percent); workload and unclear expectations (31 percent); poor leadership and company direction (27 percent); company layoffs or restructuring (25 percent); inadequate compensation or benefits (25 percent).
• 62 percent of employees say their manager listens to their concerns, compared with 20 percent who feel their manager does not. For employees who say they are experiencing Quiet Cracking, 47 percent say managers do not listen to their concerns.
• 21 percent of employees don’t feel valued and recognized for their contributions at work.
• 29 percent of employees say their workload is unmanageable; 15 percent don’t clearly understand their role expectations.
• 42 percent of employees say they haven’t received any employer-provided training in the past 12 months. Employees who haven’t received training in the last year are 140 percent more likely to feel insecure about their jobs.
• Employees who frequently or constantly experience Quiet Cracking are 68 percent less likely to feel valued and recognized at work.

About the survey

The TalentLMS survey was conducted online in March 2025 with 1,000 U.S. employees across industries. Minor discrepancies in total figures may occur due to rounding.